Conquering the Broken Heroine?

Hunter Academy.
A place where the best talents in South Korea gather.

Recently, the new batch of students has been a hot topic on the internet due to their exceptionally high standards.

Han Seoyeon.
The only daughter of Han Joon-hyuk, a hunter on par with the hero Lee Yeon, and also the chairman of the Firefly Group.

A blonde, red-eyed beauty who inherited her father’s talent and her mother’s looks, she was considered flawless as a future leader of the Korean hunter world.

Baek Da-eun.
The daughter of Baek Kang-hyuk, a hunter considered just below the level of Lee Yeon or Han Joon-hyuk.

With her unique hairstyle called “rollbun” and distinctive way of speaking, she was just as much a topic of conversation as Han Seoyeon.

Michaela Wittelsbach.
The first foreign student in history.

The first case of a student admitted to the Academy purely on merit, not under pretenses like an exchange program.

Her strength as an S-class Awakener was impressive, but her true prowess lay in her practical experience, honed from a young age in the harsh environment of Europe.

Her battle sense, incomparable to her peers, was rarely lacking even when compared to Korea’s first-generation hunters.

Europeans say:
She is the hero to succeed Lee Yeon.
No, she is Europe’s Lee Yeon.

An idea that would make Koreans not just angry, but dumbfounded if they heard it.
Looking at objective achievements and combat ability, it was close to the truth.

Add to this Lee Ha-yul, the student council president.
A generation drawing attention in many ways.

And in this generation, there was one more student who received attention for different reasons than the previous four.

Han Seo-yeon.
E-class non-ability user.
Black hair.
From the slums.

Each characteristic is shocking on its own.
She had three such characteristics.
She was undoubtedly not the kind of talent suited for the Academy, which selects students based on ability.

There was much talk.
Naturally, it was criticism and conspiracy theories.

Did she sell her body in the slums to make connections with a professor? Did she buy her position as an Academy student with her body? And so on.

At the time, all kinds of media incited public opinion and sharpened their criticism of the Academy’s controversy.

Of course, that was all.
How could such criminal acts actually occur in the Academy established by the great leader?

The media quickly fell silent.
As if nothing had ever happened.

However, even as interest waned, Han Seo-yeon’s existence remained a mystery.
How on earth could an E-class enter the Academy?

As the questions were gradually being forgotten,

[Hunter Academy attacked by terrorists!]

An incident occurred.
A national facility being attacked by terrorists, no less.

[Worst disaster since the founding of the nation, what were the professors doing?]

[Over 70 students held captive by terrorists for an hour… Some students suffering from anxiety symptoms, receiving mental health treatment…]

[Perpetrator a soldier? Army Chief of Staff Kim Wan-seung states, “Just an impersonator, unrelated to the military.”]

Since the appearance of the great hero, South Korea had been peaceful.
There had been no notable incidents on the surface, even if things were uncertain beneath.

But something happened.
Without any warning.
The citizens of South Korea, who had only enjoyed an era of peace, focused on this new topic.

The attack by terrorists claiming to be soldiers.
The incompetent professors who were fooled.
And above all,

[The terrorist was subdued not by a professor, but by a student?]

[Black-haired E-class non-ability user saves the Academy!]

[Hunter Management Bureau official: “The student in question is an E-class Awakener. Re-examination results are the same…”]

The fact that a black-haired girl had played an active role.
It was only natural for the public to be shocked by this surprising news.

[…So, Doctor, are you saying that Han Seo-yeon’s strength is all the result of her efforts?]

[That’s right. Even if she’s E-class, an Awakener is still an Awakener. Ability is ability. If she locally compresses mana into the blade only when cutting monsters, it’s not theoretically impossible.]

[When you say ‘theoretically’…]

[It means it’s practically impossible. The reflexes and overall physical strength to react to monster attacks without being a physical enhancement type ability user. On top of that, extreme mana control is necessary. If it weren’t for this visible footage, honestly, it would have been hard to believe.]

South Korea is a meritocracy that despises the weak.

However, if there’s skill even in an E-class.
If it’s not just a worm, but a dragon born from a small stream.

If there’s a dramatic story of a hard worker born in the slums, what then?

[Han Seo-yeon’s words to the terrorist are quite interesting too, aren’t they?]

[Yes. ‘A hunter, by definition, is one who hunts fears. So that the world no longer fears anything,’ wasn’t it? It’s a great quote. I’m ashamed to say, but it makes me reflect on myself too.]

Han Seo-yeon had become a national star overnight.
Everyone praised her.
Except for one person.

“…Why.”

Han Seo-yeon frantically pounded on the internet.

[‘A hunter, by definition, is one who hunts fears. So that the world no longer fears anything.’]

-Wow, that’s really cool for real
-Unnie, you’re really cool! I’ll support you!
-It’s like… seeing the hero, young one,
-Hnnng noona I’m dyinggg

It was preserved.
The famous quote from a novel that she had carelessly blurted out.
Clearly.

“No, why on earth!”

With her own voice dubbed over it.

[‘A hunter, by definition, is one who hunts fears. So that the world no longer fears anything. A hunter, by definition, is one who hunts fears…’]

“Aaaagh, no!”

How did it come to this?
An embarrassing moment preserved for life.

Han Seo-yeon was happy.
So very happy.
She felt like going out to eat lunch.

[The Falling Star Swordsman of the Academy] is a novel full of various depressing elements.

Heroines thirsting for male attention.
The personalities of Academy students no better than those of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Among these, what was dissatisfying throughout the read was none other than the development where the protagonist’s heroic deeds were concealed.

What is the royal road of hunter stories?
The achievements of an overpowered protagonist.
Various media praising the protagonist.

In short, Han Seo-yeon wanted to be watched.

She wanted others to know about her achievements.
She wanted to be praised for her achievements.
She wanted to see people praising her achievements.

But such things don’t happen in the early parts of this depressing novel.
The only people who recognize her are those involved in the incidents and the professors.

This incident would be the same.
Essentially, the only person who would properly know about her actions and comfort her would be Michaela.

So she thought.
If that’s the case, let’s just go for it while we’re at it.

Doesn’t everyone have such a fantasy at least once?
If you’re a web novel reader, wouldn’t you have it?

The fantasy of directly shouting out a famous quote from an anime or novel.

It wasn’t like she had destroyed the original work enough to cause an immediate butterfly effect anyway.
In that sense, Han Seo-yeon just went for it.

“I’m ruined. Ruined…”

This was the result.

“Now I can never get married, sob…!”

Han Seo-yeon’s embarrassing moment had been preserved for 24 hours in front of 80 million citizens.

“Why. It’s just cool.”
“Don’t…”
“‘A hunter, by definition, is one who hunts fears. So that the world no longer fears anything,’ right?”
“Hrmmblrgh…”

Evil golden sun.
The evil golden sun was tormenting Han Seo-yeon.

How did it come to this?
Han Seo-yeon couldn’t understand.

Butterfly effect.
That could be the cause.
But even that should have some constants.

Let’s say a butterfly’s wing flap could eventually become a storm that kills people.
But a butterfly flapping its wings doesn’t immediately kill someone walking down the street.

Han Seo-yeon had changed the original work.
She had blood on her hands.
Overall, it was a big snowballing.

But if asked whether this could cause a significant butterfly effect in this situation, the answer would be close to ‘no’.

Surely, just saying one original famous quote wouldn’t cause this, right?

“Still, it’s fortunate.”

Han Seoyeon smiled at Han Seo-yeon.

“That unnie’s achievements aren’t being ignored.”
“…”

For a moment, Han Seo-yeon was at a loss for words.

Thinking back, the original Han Seoyeon was somewhat broken.
Despite being mentally immature, she had been born and raised in the slums.

Han Seoyeon became excessively self-deprecating.
She became cynical about the world.

Now, it wasn’t like that anymore.
Han Seoyeon, an ordinary high school girl, had developed a personality befitting an ordinary high school girl.

Smiling often.
Making many jokes.
Worrying about her incompetent older sister.

…Indeed, Han Seo-yeon’s choice was not wrong.

The idea of becoming a new protagonist in place of the original protagonist, forced as it may seem, was correct.

The time she spent in the slums was meaningful.
Her twin younger sister’s smile was proof of this.

“Unnie…?”
“Ah. Um. Yeah. I was pretty amazing, wasn’t I.”

Han Seoyeon’s innocent smile.
Han Seo-yeon smiled in response.

“Yes. Unnie is amazing. Really amazing.”
“…Are you picking a fight with your heavenly unnie right now?”

Ending like ordinary sisters.
How dare a younger sister tease her heavenly unnie!

A firefly cannot shine alone.
While the bright sun is up, its light is so faint that no one pays attention to it.

But when heavy night falls and the sun loses its light, the tiny firefly illuminates the darkness.
It lights up the darkness and comforts people.

Thus, it was named the Firefly Group.
Wanting to be fireflies that illuminate people in that dark era.

“Did you meet that failure again?”

Brown hair and eyes.
A middle-aged man with a gentlemanly appearance, Han Joon-hyuk, said.

“How foolish.”
“…It’s not something for you to worry about.”

Han Seoyeon replied with a sharp voice.
It was not a normal conversation between ‘father and daughter’.

“How foolish, truly foolish.”

Han Joon-hyuk genuinely couldn’t understand his only daughter.

“Why do you defend that failure even to the point of opposing me? Your promised future is nothing but glory. Why do you protect that incompetent person even to the point of fighting with this father?”

In the end, she’s a failure.
Even if she’s become somewhat famous recently, the fact that Han Seo-yeon is an E-class non-ability user remains unchanged.

He had no way of knowing why the hero Lee Yeon promoted such a failure.
But it was nothing more than a temporary illusion.

The national character of this country is like a pot lid.
They will cheer quickly and forget quickly.
That’s all there is to it.

Han Seoyeon was an S-class Awakener.
She was destined to inherit the Firefly Group and become the greatest hunter in the world someday.

Normally, there would be no need to be attached to a failure.

“Because she’s my sister. My only one.”
“No.”

Han Joon-hyuk declared.

“You are an only child. You don’t have a sister.”
“…Yes. To you, that might be true.”

It was a disgusting statement no matter how many times she heard it.
She felt like she might vomit.

Han Seoyeon’s tone was stiff.

“Remember this.”

Han Joon-hyuk sneered lightly.

“If I feel like it, I can dispose of that failure at any time.”

The founder of the Firefly Group.
On the surface, the top hunter on par with the hero Lee Yeon.

If he set his mind to it, getting rid of a rat born in the slums wouldn’t be a difficult task.

This was merely a leash.
For the etiquette education of his only daughter.

“Do you understand?”
“Yes. Father.”

Only then did Han Seoyeon call the man father.
Han Seoyeon walked out of the room carelessly.

“…”

She curled up in a corner.

“Unnie…”

She wanted to be by her sister’s side always.
Not in a place like this.

“Un, nie…”

She missed that warm touch.
Lost when she was young.